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Sunday, March 13, 2016

The Red Boat

This past Wednesday I had an idea, a grand what if involving my favorite photo of the red boat that was on the River Tay in Newburgh, Scotland back in 2013.

I use this particular photo all the time when working with the tea bags - partly because of the beauty of the place and partly for the memories and profound effect that week in Scotland had on my art and life...and continues to have.

What if I printed that photo large? Not 10 inches x 12 inches or even 24 x 36 large, but L A R G E. Six feet wide type large. Could I? How? What would it look like printed on multiple sheets of tea bags? Did I actually have enough tea bags? There was only one way to find out - just do it.

Thursday found me sitting at the computer and figuring out how to do all the technical work in Photoshop. Friday I cut freezer paper to 11" x 17" and attached it to the same size printer paper to help add stability to the page when feeding it through my printer. Yesterday morning, I lightly ironed tea bags to the pages and began printing.

And printing.

And printing.

Between 35 and 40 pages. So far.

Multiples of the same area to allow for depth, and possibly movement, when all is done.

There were minor blips, a few tea bags became wrinkled a bit going through the printer.

Yay! I know there are some of your tea bags in this piece now as well as one or two from Nancy and at least two other friends...and a few of mine thrown in. I'm happy to receive all the tea bags you care to save for me. Thank you!!!

Oh my goodness. You give me food for thought ... as always! I also envy you that large area of white board for hanging / viewing work in progress. I'll have to badger (again) he who, when the spirit moves him, does such things.

Fantastic, I rather like it as it is but am looking forward to seeing how it progresses. Cant believe its two years since you wrote about your experiences at Newburgh, I am still hoping to go sometime or try and persuade India to do another course in the South.

The great thing about the progress so far is you can re-print the pieces. Sure, they won't come out exactly the same, but you can re-print them. So sew away, with that in mind. Wonderful Jennifer! Excited to see where you take this...errrr, scratch that...where this journey takes YOU! :-) Enjoy!

You know how much fun (and aggrevating) it can be to print on used tea bags. What did you print? This is the first time I've printed something that will end in being one large piece. Usually my tea bags are incorporated in small pieces. It's been quite an adventure so far. Enjoy!

I printed a photo of my dad at his drawing table. I ended up with 6 images that I incorporated into a diptych. It was definitely a trial and error process. I, too, mostly use tea bags on a smaller scale. You're project is inspiring me to go big again!

Hi J - nothing to add to the comments already made really - just want to say that now and then an exceptional idea and piece comes along; and you have one in the making. Now no pressure - the stitching will add the link and layers and lines to the piece. So looking forward to the completed work. Brilliant. B